Southwest Rapid Rewards - Rapid Rewards Expire?

Still new to the whole RR. I have the Plus, Premiere and now the Bussiness card. Shortly after getting the bussiness they closed my plus account. However i think i missed the companion pass by one month.:confused: I opened my account in Nov 23. My first statement only had 28 points and wasnt credited my 50k until january i believe. There still a chance?

Anyhow...

Do these points have an experation date? Or are they good for "life"

Your post is confusing. You can only have 1 RR account. Don't understand what you are talking about opening and closing accounts.

Any points earned are good forever, as long as you have activity every 24 months.

I think the reference is to credit cards, not RR accounts.

yes i meant in regards to having several credit card accounts. not RR ^

Your post is confusing. You can only have 1 RR account. Don't understand what you are talking about opening and closing accounts.

Any points earned are good forever, as long as you have activity every 24 months.

The reference was to CP, at least I think it was. While points used to buy flights have no expiration, all CPQP and TQP get reset to 0 at midnight Jan 1.

I rarely fly on Southwest and was wondering if there was a way to check on the website when my RR points will expire. Does anybody know where to find this?

I rarely fly on Southwest and was wondering if there was a way to check on the website when my RR points will expire. Does anybody know where to find this?

That feature does not exist. I hope they add it soon. Nobody's points have expired yet, since that requires 24 months of inactivity and the program is less than 24 months old.

Here's an idea: Everybody call Rapid Rewards and ask for their expiration date. After 2000 calls the managers will decide to add that information to the MySouthwest page. @:-) :D:D:D

In most hotel programs you can extend expiration by redeeming for an award and then canceling and redepositing. For Southwest the rules say this shouldn't work, but maybe it will.

That feature does not exist. I hope they add it soon. Nobody's points have expired yet, since that requires 24 months of inactivity and the program is less than 24 months old.

Here's an idea: Everybody call Rapid Rewards and ask for their expiration date. After 2000 calls the managers will decide to add that information to the MySouthwest page. @:-) :D:D:D

In most hotel programs you can extend expiration by redeeming for an award and then canceling and redepositing. For Southwest the rules say this shouldn't work, but maybe it will.

LMAO. Great idea! Thanks.

The thing that is interesting about points expiring after 24 months of no activity is the fact that the points have a reputation for not expiring. Many people who fly Southwest minimally talk about how the points never expire and my guess is that some will become very disappointed in the future, if the same rules are in place in a couple of years.

It seems that in advertisements for the new rapid rewards 2.0, the mention of points expiring has been done very subtly, almost to give the wrong impression to consumers.

The thing that is interesting about points expiring after 24 months of no activity is the fact that the points have a reputation for not expiring. Many people who fly Southwest minimally talk about how the points never expire and my guess is that some will become very disappointed in the future, if the same rules are in place in a couple of years.

It seems that in advertisements for the new rapid rewards 2.0, the mention of points expiring has been done very subtly, almost to give the wrong impression to consumers.

Exactly! Me, as a consumer, has had a wrong impression. Hopefully they will clear this up.

Hey guys,
So it's true that Southwest does not show the expiration date online?

I received the 50K points from Southwest via their credit card in Dec 2011, and never had any activity with them. According to the rules, the points should expire Dec 2013?

Hey guys,
So it's true that Southwest does not show the expiration date online?

I received the 50K points from Southwest via their credit card in Dec 2011, and never had any activity with them. According to the rules, the points should expire Dec 2013?

Yeah, there is still no way to find out. IMO their website is horrifically done.
Go here: https://www.southwest.com/contact-us/contact-us.html?int=GFOOTER-CUSTOMER-CONTACT-US and send an email (on the left side of the page) and ask to see when your points expire. If they don't respond then just call them.

Quick question on the points never expire if there's activity within 24 months - does that include redeeming points for flights as well? Or would the points I earn from the SW Visa card every month extend the period? Thanks!

Quick question on the points never expire if there's activity within 24 months - does that include redeeming points for flights as well? Or would the points I earn from the SW Visa card every month extend the period? Thanks!

Does the Southwest Visa points go straight to your RR account? or does it go into another separate account and then you have to transfer them to Rapid Rewards?

Quick question on the points never expire if there's activity within 24 months - does that include redeeming points for flights as well? Or would the points I earn from the SW Visa card every month extend the period? Thanks!

As long as you are earning/reddeming points your pushing the 24 months out. You could always book a flight and then cancel it. The points are redopsited in your account

Quick question on the points never expire if there's activity within 24 months - does that include redeeming points for flights as well? Or would the points I earn from the SW Visa card every month extend the period? Thanks!

**Points don’t expire as long as you have flight or Partner earning activity every 24 months. Benefits apply to points transactions. All Rapid Rewards Rules and Regulations apply. (http://www.southwest.com/rapidrewards/overview)

Credit cards are listed in the Rapid Rewards Partners section of WN's website (http://www.southwest.com/html/rapidrewards/partners/credit-cards/southwest-airlines-rapid-rewards-cards/index.html).

Quick question on the points never expire if there's activity within 24 months - does that include redeeming points for flights as well? Or would the points I earn from the SW Visa card every month extend the period? Thanks!

Does the Southwest Visa points go straight to your RR account? or does it go into another separate account and then you have to transfer them to Rapid Rewards?

Points from RR visa go directly to your account. No transfer is neccessary.

Thanks for the reply, Dangir and qwerty. :) Looks like Rapid Rewards do not ever expire, as long as you are willing to put in a little work.

Thanks for the reply, Dangir and qwerty. :) Looks like Rapid Rewards do not ever expire, as long as you are willing to put in a little work.

For other folks, if you are ever going to fly WN "someday," just get the Premier Visa CC. $99 a year fee but on renewal you get $100 worth of WN points (6000), so it's essentially free. Never have to think about expiration. And no foreign exchange fee.

Definitely worth it for spend with partners and WN (double points) and through the Shopping Mall.

Quick question on the points never expire if there's activity within 24 months - does that include redeeming points for flights as well? Or would the points I earn from the SW Visa card every month extend the period? Thanks!

According to southwest.com, there are 8 ways to extend your Rapid Reward points another 24 months:

Points don’t expire as long as you have flight or Partner EARNING activity every 24 months. Benefits apply to points transactions. All Rapid Rewards Rules and Regulations apply.

1. Flying (southwest.com didn't say if redeeming counts)
2. Car Rental through partner
3. Hotel through partner
4. Using Southwest Credit Card
5. Southwest Dining (rewards network)
6. Retail shopping through Southwest
7. Someone transferring points to you
8. Purchasing points directly from southwest.com

According to: http://millionmilesecrets.com/2013/01/03/airline-miles-expiration/ you can spend miles/points and extend the expiration date.

According to: http://millionmilesecrets.com/2013/01/03/airline-miles-expiration/ you can spend miles/points and extend the expiration date.

How would they know? Nobody's RR2 points have expired yet.

How would they know? Nobody's RR2 points have expired yet.

I just called to confirm, the CSR said ANY ACTIVITY will extend the 24 months and redeeming points does indeed count as activity.

I would double check that by calling again and seeing if a second CSR says the same thing.

I would double check that by calling again and seeing if a second CSR says the same thing.

Great idea, I will do that soon...

I would write a letter, leaving a paper trail.

Actually, I would just follow the rules as published and not worry about it, because if it's not published, then they can just say they changed the rules if you try to come back at them with old letters.

I would write a letter, leaving a paper trail.

Actually, I would just follow the rules as published and not worry about it, because if it's not published, then they can just say they changed the rules if you try to come back at them with old letters.

Even better suggestion...

How would they know? Nobody's RR2 points have expired yet.

RR 2.0 started 3/1/11.:

http://www.southwest.com/html/travel-extras/promotions/rapid-rewards-all-new.html

That's more than 2 years; I am sure at least a few people flew immediately thereafter and have no activity since.

RR 2.0 started 3/1/11.:

http://www.southwest.com/html/travel-extras/promotions/rapid-rewards-all-new.html

That's more than 2 years; I am sure at least a few people flew immediately thereafter and have no activity since.

That's true, but I have it on good authority that Southwest's intent is not to expire any points until there is some sort of notification capability. In other words, expiration is one more project that's behind schedule!

In other words, expiration is one more project that's behind schedule!

I love it!

In secure message:

"In the All-New Rapid Rewards Program, points don’t expire as long as there’s earning activity in your account within 24 months. The Member's account expiration date will be extended 24 months from the date of the last earned Point. Points earned from flying Southwest flights and points earned from Rapid Rewards Partners will extend the account activity date. Points deposited after flight cancellation will not count as earning activity. If a Member fails to earn a point in 24 months, the Member's account will become inactive and all points and Promotional Awards will be forfeited."

Cheapest would be to sign up a CC for RR Dining and go buy a Coke or coffee somewhere.

Or something like buy a song on iTunes through the WN Shopping Mall.

Cheapest would be to sign up a CC for RR Dining and go buy a Coke or coffee somewhere.

Or something like buy a song on iTunes through the WN Shopping Mall.

Have you tried buying iTunes through shopping mall portals? I'm always hesitant that it wont earn miles because all it does is open up my iTunes app. How does it know which FF program I'm with? I browse different shopping mall portals here and there.

Have you tried buying iTunes through shopping mall portals? I'm always hesitant that it wont earn miles because all it does is open up my iTunes app. How does it know which FF program I'm with? I browse different shopping mall portals here and there.

Never did it. I am not much of a shopper.

If I were worried about expiration, I'd just do the Dining thing.

Have you tried buying iTunes through shopping mall portals? I'm always hesitant that it wont earn miles because all it does is open up my iTunes app. How does it know which FF program I'm with? I browse different shopping mall portals here and there.

I've done it plenty of times with the UR Mall. At first i would close out iTunes and reset my browser after each purchase but after a while i tried clicking the link once and making all of the purchases then and it still worked.